Using point-of-care ultrasound to determine incidence of deep vein thrombosis after right-sided radiofrequency catheter ablation

Introduction: Femoral venous access is routinely used for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) procedures. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which is often sub-clinical, is uncommon following RFCA. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a cost-effective way to diagnose DVT. Identification of DVT incidence, especially if sub-clinical, can direct change in practice to reduce DVT and lay ground for cost-effective screening strategies postprocedures. The aim of our study is to determine the incidence of DVT after right-sided radiofrequency cardiac catheter ablation using POCUS.

Methods: We conducted a single-center prospective cross-sectional study in patients undergoing right-sided RFCA. Within 24 h postprocedure, the participants underwent compression venous duplex ultrasonography using POCUS to look for evidence of DVT in cannulated limb. The contralateral limb that was not cannulated was scanned as a control.

Results: A total of 194 patients were scanned post-right-sided RFCA procedures. Average age was 43.5 ± 13.2 years and 131 (67.5%) were women. A total of 148 (76.3%) patients underwent AVNRT ablation. Ten (5.2%) patients developed DVT, of which nine had sub-clinical DVT. Age (>53 years), greater sum of sheaths used (>3) and longer duration of bed rest maintained (up to 4.0 h vs. >4.0 h, p = 0.006) were identified as risk factors.

Conclusion: Most of the DVTs after right-sided catheter ablation are sub-clinical. Routine scanning for DVT after right-sided catheter ablation as well as reducing number of sheaths and bed rest should be considered.